Decision on expansion of the EUMM to Abkhazia and South Ossetia not endorsed due to contradictions - 28 July, 2009

2009-07-28 17:19

The EU countries haven't made the decision on the EUMM in Georgia expansion due to serious contradictions - ITAR TASS.

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The mission in Georgia was extended to September 14th 2010, and the EU Council on Georgia deplores the absence of access to the territory of South Ossetia and Abkhazia the final statement says. As for the initiative to draw representatives of the USA and Turkey to the EUMM, the final statement doesn't say a word.

The Foreign Ministers of Great Britain [David Miliband] and Finalnd [Alexander Stubb] support the idea.

Whereas Franco Frattini, the Foreign Minister of Italy, claimed that the EU is not ready for representatives of the third countries joining the EU monitoring mission in Georgia.

According to the sources in the delegation, the issue may cause "counterproductive reaction' of Russia. The diplomats believe the Mission is representative enough to conduct its work effectively, and it main problem is rather the limited opportunities to monitor the situation. Washington and Ankara, in their turn, showed no evident desire to join the Mission.

Previously Georgia Times mentioned the source, stating that in the nearest hours the Foreign Ministers of the Union will endorse the extension. The diplomat confirmed that the draft includes covering the territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia with the mandate. At the same time, he admitted that in practice it couldn't be implemented at once due to the position of the local authorities.